Titans’ Adair Won’t Return in the Fall

Bobby Adair, a 6-foot 8-inch junior forward who started 10 games for Cal State Fullerton last season, has left school and said Monday that he will not return.

Adair said in a telephone interview from his home in Bordentown, N.J., that he left school about two weeks ago to be with his mother, who he said is ill. But Fullerton Coach George McQuarn said Adair also had academic problems, and that it was doubtful that Adair would have been eligible next semester.

Although Adair said he probably would have stayed at Fullerton if his mother were not ill, he said his season with the Titans was frustrating.

Adair was a starter for much of the early part of Fullerton’s 12-17 season, before McQuarn suspended him for two games for unspecified disciplinary reasons. He thereafter played in a reserve role.

Although he averaged only 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds for the season, he had three 12-point games and one 8-rebound game.

“I was kind of frustrated,” Adair said. “It got me mad a lot when I was taken out of the game, but I was just staying in the system, telling myself it would get better. Apparently, it didn’t. It was a frustrating season that I had to get through. It’s over now, and I have to go on with life.”

Adair said he planned to play in a Philadelphia summer league and hopes to play professionally in Europe. He said that he “probably was through” with college basketball.

Adair played two seasons at Utah before transferring to Fullerton, where he played one season after sitting out a year as required by National Collegiate Athletic Assn. rules.

Said McQuarn: “Bobby’s role at the end of the season was coming off the bench. I don’t know that that would have changed next year. Our needs are far greater than replacing Bobby Adair. Our needs are to replace four starters.”

Van Anderson, a junior role player, will be Fullerton’s only returning starter.